Bag-fastener.



F. A'- FULLER.

BAG FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, ms.

1 ,1 99,171. Patented Sept.'26, 1916,

will;

A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT onnrcn.

FRANZ A. FULLER, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE J. E. MERG-OTTCOMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJER SEY.

BAG-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgritefl Sept, 26, 191%,

Application filed November 13, 1915. Serial No. 61,215.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANZ A. FULLER, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city of Newark, county ofEssex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bag-Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference thereon, forming apart of this specification.

Hitherto, in the construction of bag fasteners of the class to which myinvention relates, it has been customary to provide the jaws of theordinary forms of hand bags, pocket-books, satchels and the like, withtwo projecting members terminating in knobs, balls or heads, whichspring or. snap past each other to hold the jaws together. If the handbag or the like be unusually full, or if either the projecting membersconstituting the fastener, or the jaws themselves, become bent ,orloosened, it often happens that the jaws are accidentally opened, andthe contents of the bag is lost or abstracted without the knowledge ofthe owner. If pressure is exerted, the two framemembers can be pulledapart, thereby causing the knobs or heads to spring or snap past eachother, thereby unlocking the bag without manipulating the fastener.

The main purpose of my invention is to overcome the objections found inthose fasteners heretofore employed, and to provide a pocket-book, purseor other frame, and its catch or fastener, which shall be neat inappearance, and shall be of a simple, strong and durable construction,with a view of furnishing a bag or purse frame having a novelconstruction of spring-actuating holding catch or fastener, which can beeasily manipulated.

All of these objects I fulfil in the preferred embodiment of myinvention which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, towhich reference is to be had, and in which similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of one form ofbag or purse frame, with a catch or fastener embodying the principles ofmy invention. Fig. 2 rep resents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3represents, on an enlarged scale, a vertical section taken on lines 00wof Fig. 1; and Fig. 4L represents a fragmentary under plan view of theframe sections, illustrating the arrangement of the spring clip and thespring for actuating the catch or fastener.

In the drawings a and I) represent the usual pair of frame sections,(either channeled or angled), which are pivotally connected at theirlower end portions by means of suitable pins or rivets c, or they may bepivotally connected with each other in any other well-known manner.Inasmuch as the catch members or fasteners employed are identical inshape, a description of one will suffice for both. Each of said framesections is provided in'its upper surface with a centrally-arranged,suitable opening for the reception of an extension provided on the catchmember to be presently described, and each frame section is furtherprovided with a suitable nosing or projection (Z, which can be forcedout from the metal from which said frame sections are made, or any othersuitable means may be provided, designed to be brought into holdingengagement with the under side of the catch member, to firmly secure thebag frame sections or members in locked position.

The catch member, :two of which are employed, may be of any desired formor configuration, and consists preferably of the chambered cap 6 formedfrom a single piece of suitable metal, said cap having secured to it adownwardly-projecting, spring-holding member f, said member havingformed thereon holding means by bending the metal thereof to form abearing or channel 9, for the reception of the spring to be presentlydescribed.

To provide a suitable finger piece or lift for the catch member, I haveshown a flat piece of suitable material 72 provided with an integralextension 71, said extension passing through a suitable aperture in thecap 6 and Spring-holding member f, and closed down upon the under sideof said member f in any convenient or desired manner. When the bag framesections are closed, the nosing or projection (Z will be received intothe cap 6 and firmly secure the bag frame sections in locked position.In order to hold said catch members in their normal initial positions, Iprovide each one with a suitable tortion spring 3', one end of which ispassed through the bearing 9 of the spring-holding member, and restsagainst the under side of the frame section, and the other end of whichis secured to the spring clip 70. This spring clip k in its preferredform, or when used in connection with a frame member of channeledcrosssection, consists of a single piece of suitable material,channeled, and of a dimension and shape approximating that of thechanneled frame section to which it is secured by being forced therein;This spring clip is provided with a centrally-arranged, depressedportion Z, said portion being further provided with openings m throughwhich one end of the spring passes, in which it is firmly held andprevented from rotation or accidental displacement. When the spring hasin this manner, been arranged in position and secured to the spring clipand catch member, it, together, with the spring-holding means on thecatch member, will limit the oscillatory movement of said catch member.In this manner, the movable catch will be retained in proper locked orholding position. When the catch member is raised, the projection (iwill become disengaged from the interior of the ca 6, thereby placingthe spring j under sm cient tension that when the operator releases thehand from the catch, the spring will again cause the catch member toreturn to its normal position. The holding or locking operation of thecatch member thus operatively connected with the frame section, iscaused by snapping or forcing the edge of the cap 6 over the usualprojection (Z upon the frame member, in the wellknown manner. When it isdesired to open the bag, it is merely necessary to apply thumb andfinger pressure in opposite directions to the finger pieces h to snapthe caps 6 over the projections (Z, said pressure tending both to movethe fasteners oppositely out of locking engagement with the framesec-tions'and the frame sections away from each other. This openingoperation is readily accomplished with one hand, and without anyparticular effort.

Experience has demonstrated that the organization above described is apractical and efficient one for accomplishing the ends sought by thisinvention. The construction may, however, be varied indetail by thoseskilled in such matters, without departing from the invention.

I desire to claim the invention as broadly as the state of the art willpermit, and with members, a catch member mounted upon each of said framemembers and having interlocking engagement with the other frame member,and a spring for each catch member, one end of which is secured to thecatch member and the other end of which is secured to the frame.

3. In combination with a pair of frame members, a pivotally connected,springs actuated catch member mounted upon each of said frame members,disengaged from each other, and having locking engagement with theopposite frame member, adapted for receiving from the thumb and fingerpressure tending both to move the catch members oppositely out oflocking engagement with the frame sections and the frame sections awayfrom each other and a spring for each. batch member, one end of which issecured to the catch member and the other end of which is secured to theframe.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of November. 1915.

FRANZ 1 A. FULLER.

Witnesses FREDK C. FISCHER, W. H. CONKLIN.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

